Iraqi civilian killings drop sharply in November

DuH2 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:42pm EST
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The number of civilians killed in violence throughout Iraq fell this month to the lowest level in nearly two years, according to government statistics obtained by Reuters on Friday.

The data showed 538 civilians were killed in November, down 29 percent from October. The statistics are compiled by the health, interior and defence ministries, and represent the best Iraqi count of the bloodshed.

They confirm a sharp fall in violence in the 10 months since U.S. forces launched a "surge" of 30,000 additional troops and a new tactic of moving from large bases into small neighborhood positions to reduce violence.

The number of civilians killed in violence in October was 758. The November figure is nearly 75 percent down from the almost 2,000 deaths per month at the beginning of this year.

The last time the government recorded fewer than 600 civilians killed in Iraq was in February 2006, the same month an attack on a Shi'ite shrine triggered huge sectarian violence.

The November figures showed 24 Iraqi soldiers and 46 Iraqi police were killed. The United States has so far reported 37 of its soldiers killed in November, one fewer than last month.

If that figure is not revised in coming days, it will have been the least deadly month for U.S. forces in Iraq since March 2006. U.S. forces lost 126 service members killed in May, the deadliest month this year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...67622620071130

Quote:

Dec 1, 11:56 PM EST
Death Toll for Iraqis Falls Again
By KIM GAMEL
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The number of Iraqis killed last month fell to 718, an Associated Press tally showed, the lowest monthly death toll since just before the 2006 bombing of a Shiite shrine provoked a vicious cycle of retaliatory sectarian violence.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Quote:

Report: Civilian deaths down in Iraq
Published: Dec. 1, 2007 at 2:28 PM

BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The number of civilians reported killed in Iraq has continued to decline substantially since June, it was reported Saturday.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_New..._in_iraq/5948/

Stay the Course

DuH2 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

US combat deaths in Iraq lowest since March 2006
1 Dec 2007, 0518 hrs IST,AFP

WASHINGTON: US combat deaths in Iraq fell in November to the lowest level since March 2006, continuing a downward trend that followed a buildup of US forces earlier this year, Pentagon figures showed on Friday.

Although the monthly death toll could still rise, the US military has so far reported 27 US troops and a Defense Department civilian employee killed in combat this month. Nine others died of other causes.

US combat deaths have fallen each month since May, the bloodiest of the year for US troops and the third deadliest of the war.

The spike in combat deaths came as a beefed up US force surged out of bases and into the streets of Baghdad and surrounding towns in a push to halt spiralling sectarian violence.

But the US military credits the surge and a turnaround in the predominantly Sunni Al-Anbar province with an overall easing of violence in the past few months.

The low US death tolls in November and October, when 29 US troops were killed, have not been seen since March 2006 when 27 US troops were killed.

All but three of the US combat deaths were caused by roadside bombs. There are currently about 162,000 US troops in Iraq. The US military plans to shrink its force in Iraq by five combat brigades by July, and possibly make deeper cuts later in the year if conditions permit.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/W...ow/2586737.cms

gene430 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2007, 05:48 AM

Wish the mainstream media would fairly report the progress.

Bobcat1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-02-2007, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene430";p=&quot

Wish the mainstream media would fairly report the progress.

What do you mean? They're hardly reporting it at all. You'd think Iraq was under some news blackout.

Pooky · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-2007, 07:24 PM

I think they may be running out of Iraqis to kill.

Just kidding, of course.

Well, it's a good thing that less people are dying, though it's still quite bad that such a large number of Iraqis are dying.

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